Rediscovering the Liverpool way

Former Irish Red Jim Beglin explains why Anfield should celebrate, regardless of tomorrow’s outcome.

“I get texts from people all over the place saying things like, ‘Christ, I just came to Thailand for a holiday and I still can’t get away from you’.”

Jim Beglin chuckles at the consequences of a new lease of broadcasting life which, as well as analysing European football for BT Sport, sees the former ITV man providing co-commentary for Premier League Productions, the company which brings live coverage of England’s top-flight to the United States, Australia

and the Middle East.

When I catch up with the former Liverpool and Ireland full-back this week, he is still awaiting a decision on which of tomorrow’s big two games he’ll be working at.

“I’d much rather be at Anfield with Liverpool having a chance to win it but I suspect I’m going to end up at the Etihad,” he says.

Heart with Liverpool, head with City – that pretty much sums up the Waterford man’s take on the Premier League title race as it reaches its final day of decision.

“I’m inclined to think that Liverpool probably have lost it,” he reluctantly concedes, but immediately opts to accentuate the positive. “There’s a lot of criticism coming Liverpool’s way but I can promise you that I’ve been spouting on in my commentary for the last god knows how long about how nervy things can become in a title run-in and how this was never guaranteed for Liverpool anyway.

“Because this is completely unknown territory for this group of players. Even in 1986 when I was fortunate to win a double, I came into a very, very experienced group that had been there and done it. And I kind of got swept along by all that and was able to rely on the experience I had around me. Yes, you were under enormous pressure but you were able to see it through.

“So I think that what Liverpool have done this season is outstanding, absolutely incredible. Some of the football that’s been played by the team – on the road but at Anfield in particular – has been tremendous.”

Yet, if tomorrow isn’t to bring the most unlikely twist yet in this season’s tale of the unexpected, the manner in which Liverpool let slip their advantage in the run-in is bound to haunt supporters for a long time.

“I think much of it was caused by the anxiety, by the tension, by the pressure,” says Beglin, “and that only increases with each game you get closer to the trophy. It’s easy to criticise that but, listen, I’ve been in a position with hugely experienced guys like Hansen and Lawrenson and at times even those guys would feel the nerves. More often than not the coolest heads are the players, but then you start picking up the vibes from the crowd, the atmosphere changes, the anxiety takes over and it spills onto the pitch. That clearly affected this Liverpool team.

“They got away with it a few times – the Sunderland game, even the Manchester City game and then, obviously, Chelsea did a number on them. But particularly in the Crystal Palace game. They had a decision to make that night once Palace got one back as to whether they were going to try to increase the goal difference or shut up shop and prioritise what was most important – the points.

“And they boobed that night, there’s no doubt they got it wrong. They should have sat in, been a little bit boring and seen the game out. We would have done that back in the day, although it was easier for us to do that then because you could knock the ball back into the keeper’s arms. And we killed many a game like that.”

While Beglin worries that Liverpool will struggle to replicate this season’s stellar form next time around, he is convinced the long-term future is much brighter for the club as a result of Brendan Rodgers’ insistence on working from a new blueprint.

“Chelsea and Man City have paid an awful lot more for stronger squads and Liverpool are much thinner in that regard,” he notes. “So Brendan Rodgers did it on the practice pitch, on the training ground. He did it with coaching and hard work. As to whether they have missed their greatest chance in this period, that could well be true, yes. I know they’ll add to the squad in the summer but whether he can get that same level of intensity out of these players again next season remains to be seen. I also think a lot of teams coming to Anfield will be a lot more prepared to go with the Chelsea approach. I don’t think so many teams will be caught by surprise again.

“But, even if they fall short this time, look at what has been achieved: you’ve got the club back in the Champions League which is a huge deal. There’s an attractiveness about the club now and I think players will want to sign. So the bedrock is there for something to be built on.”

All of which, of course, is to presuppose that Manchester City won’t find a way to self-destruct against West Ham.

“I think the Etihad will be nervous tomorrow if a goal doesn’t arrive early so that could affect them,” says Beglin, “but, ultimately, having been through that a couple of seasons ago, I think most of their players will be ready for this one. They’ve got all the talent in the world but I think mentally they’ll be better equipped this time around.

“There is always a chance that West Ham could score an early one. Everyone’s talking about Carroll and Downing but I think Kevin Nolan’s a Liverpool fan and he’s always capable of popping up to do us a favour [laughs]. But really I just think City will have too much for them.

“As for my old club, if I was Brendan Rodgers, I’d say to them, ‘never mind the disappointment, you’ve exceeded expectations as it is. Go out, enjoy yourselves, play with freedom and win the game – and we’ll see what happens at the Etihad.’ I wouldn’t think Liverpool will have a problem. They already feel like they’ve blown it so they should be able to relax.

“But if it’s not to be for Liverpool, I’d still be very positive. I know it’s going to be tinged with great disappointment because they got so unexpectedly close but I think there’s an awful lot to be joyful about. For me, it’s been a treat to go back to Anfield and see football like what we tried to apply back in the day and what I was proud to be a part of, once upon a time.”